Railway-tricycle



(No Model.)

2 sheetssheetv 1. R. N. MAYPIELD. RAILWAY TRICYCLE.

.Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

(No Mod-e1.) K

rsheetsShQet 2. iR. N. lVIA-YFIBLD. v

RAILWAY TRIGYVGLB. v

v-Ptell-iisd Jan. 14. 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

REUBEN NEWTON MAYFIELD, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

RAILWAY-TRICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,591, dated January14, 1890.

Application tiled November 5, 1888. Renewed October 4, 1889. Serial No.329,115. (No model.)

' To @ZZ whom, it may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, REUBENNEWTON MAY- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boulder, in the county of Boulder and State ofColorado, have invented a new and 1mproved Railway-Tricycle, of whichthe following is a specification.

' unaccustomed to the use of ordinary bicycles and tricycles, oneadapted to be readily changed and adjusted for varying gages ofrailways, which may also be changed and adjusted to permit its use byriders of different heights or length of limb, and which may be readilyfolded into a comparatively small compass for transportation on trainsor otherwise, and as readily extended and locked in condition for use;to which ends it consists in the features and combinations moreparticularly hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my invention, in whichdrawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view thereof; Fig. 2, a section online :c Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan View.

In these figures the reference-numeral 1 indicates the main longitudinalmember of the framing carrying the bearings of the main wheels 2 and 3,2 being the front wheel somewhat smaller than the rear and maindrivingwheel 3. The end of the axle of this drivingwheel 3 is supportedin a slot 4 in the main i' brace 1, the axle being clamped at the properpoint in the slot i to sufficiently tighten the sprocket-chain 32 by aclamping-nut on the inner end of the axle. These wheels 2 and 3 aresecured upon the exterior or outer line of the main brace-rod relativelyto the frame of the machine, so that the one main longitudinal rodconstitutes the entire framing upon that side of the tricycle, economyof material and labor in construction and increased lightness being thusattained, and for lightness with sufficient strength and rigidity therod 1 may be tubular. These wheels thus connected by the main brace 1run upon the same rail and are each double flanged, as shown-that is,there are flanges on either side of each wheel, taking on either side ofthe rail-head, so as to the more securely guide and support the machine.Upon the other rail travels the third wheel 5, consired degree ofextension, and the outer ends of all the solid or rod portions aresecured to a collar 10, in which is seated the axle of the third wheel5. Of these diagonal brace-rods, the rear one is composed of the tubularportion 6, the solid rod 8, and the set-screw 9. This tubular portion 6is forked at its inner end, as at 7, the limbs of the fork being pivotedupon the end of the main brace l, so that the diagonal brace composed ofparts 6 and 8 may be foldedv along the main brace 1 when the end of part8 is disengaged from the collar 10. The outer or free end of such part 8is arranged to* take upon a pin projecting from the collar 10, uponwhich pin is a thumb, wingg-or set nut 38, clamping 8 thereupon.A

At the front end of the main brace 1 is pivoted, by aboltpassingtherethrough, the'tubular portion 11 of the front brace-rod, anut 12 taking upon the head of the pivotal bolt to keep the part 11 andmain braced in position. Within the tubular portion 1 1 slides the rod13, whose free end likewise takes upon'the pin or bolt on collar 10,before referred to, a

set-screw 14 keeping tubular part ll and slid-"f ing part 13 in properposition.v

It should be stated that, while a main brace- IOO rod 1 only long enoughto carry the bearings or axles of the main wheels 2 and 3 mightbe used,it is preferable to extend them beyond the bearings of the wheels, inorder to give increased base area to the machine, as represented by thetriangle bounded by the main brace-rod land the diagonal brace-rods (i 3and 11 13, such increased base area giving greater stcadiness to thecycle, especially when used at high speed.

Rigidly secured to and projecting upwardly from the main brace l is ahandle-standard composed of a tubular portion 21 and a rod portion 22,sliding therein, a handle 23-being' secured upon the top of the latter.Such handle-standard .and handle are, as stated,

y rigid trom the main bracel, and are intended merely for the steadyingof the rider, there being no `necessity of steering, inasmuch astheycyclenaturally follows the track and its i curvings. 3

:'From near the rear :wheel the tube 24 prei jects `upward-ly, the bentsolid` yrod 25 sliding therein, the two forming the seat or saddlestandard, a saddle 29, of usual construction,

Abeing secured in the ordinary way upon the horizontal portion ofthe rod25.

:From thehandle-standard to the saddlestandard` extends a brace 26,whose; ends are formedinto clamps grasping the tubular por` `itions ofsuch standardsat their upper ends,"

suehends being split for a little distance, in :order that `they may becrowded upon their `in- `teriorly-sliding solid rods in a manner `Well35 known in the arts, 28 being the clamp grasping the end of the tubularpart. 21-of the handle-A` standard and 29 the clamp grasping the end ofthe tnbularpart of the saddle-standard,39, be-

ing thehandle of the nut for the latter clamp,

4that -for the nut of clamp 28 not being shown.V Then as one or theother` of these clamps is rloosened Athe saddle or the handle maybe`raisedfor lowered and then secured in'position by the retightening ofthe loosened clamp.

rVhile, as ,thus far described,amplepro-l visioni is made for stabilityand rigidity of `the running-gear and its frame, it is` prefer-g 1 anydesired point. Adiagonal braces or` cross-braces connect the able,inorder to give greater stability and fsteadiness to the rider, to add athird diagonal brace composed of a tubular portion 15, piv# oted at thetop of the handle-standard, and a solid rod 1G, sliding therein andconnected` at its outer end to the collar 10, as in the` case of `theother diagonal brace-rods, a set-screw 17` being used, as in the othercases, to lock the` tubular and the solid parts together at As beforestated, these third wheel 5to the main- Wheels 2 and 3,

`through the medium of collar or tube 10, in

\ whichis secured the axle-rod of the wheel 5.

Such axle 1S, upon which wheel 5 rotates, is

wheels 2 and 3 to be altered or regulated, a set-screw 2O being seatedin the collar 10 to clamp the axle 1S in the desired position.

To communicate motion to the main driving-wheels a sprocket-wheel 31 isjournaled in bearings supported in au inVerted-U-shaped clamp 40 uponand depending from the main brace or framing rod 1 at about its center,the usual crank-arms 30, with treadles or pedals, being secured upon theends of the axle of the sprocket-Wheel 31, from which wheel an endlessbelt or sprocket-chain 32 passes over a sprocket-Wheel 33, secured uponthe hub of 4wheel 3, the relation of the ,sprocket-wheels 31 and 33 toeach other preferably being such that increasedl rateof rotation is 1given the latter. At about: the same: point xa? brakelever 3i -iscentrally pivoted to the mainfbracc or framing: rod a1, which carriesat: bothl free ends brake blocks orcshoes 35.

From, the brake-lever 3i a system of levers 36 extends to the handle23,where they. yare connected to a brake-handle 3.7,` pvoted to thehandle 23 or handle-standards so` that the pulling up of thebrake-handle 23 `shall cause the impiugement of the shoes35 iipon theperipheries of both Wheels. 2` and 3.

To lessen friction it ispreferable .that all the `bearings used `beball-bearings of any of `the usual and reliable` constructions,and soVfar lhave used in practice witlngood results what isknown as the Smithpatent-bearing found onfmany `bicycles and tricyclesJ r'llhisconstruction, by the use of the telescopic diag- `onal `or brace.l rods,vpermits .adjustmentto any width of` gage,and itis evidentfthatthispartof myinvention` might be .carried-:into effect by other andknownways of increasing -or diminishing their length.

By removing :the ends of 13zand 1G from the'icollarwlO the rear `rod Y6.3,` with wheel 5,

`may be foldediover against the other side of the cycle, theotherbracefrod, likewise being folded fiat .the1.eagainst, so that thet-ricycle occupies but little more space for transportation, than anordinary bicycle, thus 'enabling it to be carried in comparatively smallcompass on trains, where it may beimade great useof and be of large4benefit inzaffording facility for the speedy dispatch of messengers forrelief in caseof accident,&c.

For use by section-men, two ormore may be hitched together by a boardorplatform extending `from the lower `,diagonal -or cross rods of one toanother cycle, so thatV several extra passengers may be carried, whilefor linemen, the., a box for carrying tools and material may besecured-upon the lower diagonal brace or cross rods.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a tricycle,the combination ot"l two main wheels upon one side, a` single-longitudinal main `i' raming-rodeonnecting and supporting them andsupporting the seat,apedal mechanisln secured thereto and dependingtherefrom, a third wheel on the other side, and

ICO

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extensible cross brace-rods connecting the third wheel to the mainframing-rod, and means for communicating motion to the driving-wheel,substantially. as set forth.

2. In a tricycle, the combination of two main wheels upon one side, asingle main longitudinal framing-rod connecting and supporting them uponthe outside of the tricycleframe and supporting the seat and brakemechanism, a pedal mechanism depending from and secured to such mainrod, a third wheel on the other side, extensible cross-rods connectingthe third wheel to such main rod and each pivotally connected at one endand detachably connected at the other end, and means for communicatingmotion to the driving-wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tricycle, the combination of two wheels on one side supportedand connected by a longitudinal main brace-rod and each having flangeson either side of its tread, a

third wheel on the'other side having a plain extended in each directionbeyond the bearings of the wheels, a third wheel on the other side,cross-rods uniting the two sides and connected at one end to theextended ends of the longitudinal main brace-rod, and means forcommunicating motion to the main drivingwheel, substantially as setforth.

5. In a tricycle, the combination of two main wheels on one sidesupported and connected by a longitudinal main brace-rod, a third wheelon the other side having an axle 18, bent, as at 19, cross brace-rodsconnecting the two sides, and means for communicating motion to the maindriving-wheel, substantially as set forth.

6. In a tricycle, the combination of two wheels on one side, alongitudinal brace-rod connecting and supporting them, a thirdy wheel onthe other side, a sleeve 10, receiving and supporting the spindle oraxle of the third wheel, cross brace-rods uniting the two sides anddetachably connected to the sleeve, and means for communicating motionto the driving-wheel, substantially as set forth.

REUBEN NEWTON MAYFIELD.

Witnesses:

JAS. M. AUTH, PETER RoUsE.

